10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 54
Injuries / Deaths:
9 / 0
Average Mileage:
59,533 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2015 Kia Soul:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #469

Mar 252023

Soul

  • miles
Check engine light came on with a p0420 code. After checking the oil, I realized it have used 1.5quartz of oil since my last oil change about 2months ago. I have had this car for only a year and have kept up on maintenance as suggest by the manufacturer. I called the dealership and they say it's normal for kias to burn oil. In my opinion it doesn't see normal nor does it seem safe. They told me it is safe to drive and to bring it in for a suspected exhaust leak.

- Liverpool, NY, USA

problem #468

Mar 272023

Soul

  • miles
Oil consumption problems

- Ocala, FL, USA

problem #467

Jan 012023

Soul

  • 36,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V750000 (Engine). The contact stated that the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) warning light was illuminated on March 19, 2023. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The contact called the local dealer and was informed that the vehicle needed to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 36,000.

- Longview, TX, USA

problem #466

Sep 122022

Soul

  • 181,113 miles
My oil is burning and it's been changed several times and is BLACK the next day plus my electrical system is messed

- Bay, AR, USA

problem #465

Mar 112023

Soul

  • 111,914 miles
Engine is not holding oil

- Pottstown, PA, USA

problem #464

Mar 052023

Soul

  • 133,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at highway speeds, an abnormal revving sound would emit from the vehicle as it hesitated upon depression of the accelerator pedal without warning. Despite the failure, her daughter managed to drive the vehicle home; the next day, the contact started the vehicle and experienced the same failure. The contact drove the vehicle to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a defective catalytic converter. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was not repaired and remained in the possession of the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 133,000.

- Wilmington, NC, USA

problem #463

Feb 012023

Soul

  • 17,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that piston #3 was damaged and that the catalytic convertor had failed. The contact was informed that the piston failed from not enough compression. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that due to the mileage the vehicle was not eligible to be repaired under recall and had to be repaired out-of-pocket. The failure mileage was approximately 177,000.

- Daytona Beach, FL, USA

problem #462

Jan 272023

Soul

  • miles
While driving home from work late at night, the car just stopped without warning and would not start again. It was towed to the dealership where I was informed that there would be a $750 diagnostic fee, but that Kia would probably not replace the engine under warranty because the recall had not been taken care of. I am the second owner of the vehicle and bought it the same year that the recall was issued. Kia consumer affairs department states that it was sent to my address, but I did not receive the notification. I cannot afford to pay $750 to find out that I will not be reimbursed and I cannot afford to have the engine replaced in a car that is worth the value of the engine. I had just changed the oil and had a valve cover gasket replaced. There was no check engine light.

- Sugar Land, TX, USA

problem #461

Mar 292021

Soul

  • miles
Shucks was taken to Kia Country of Savannah for recall repairs. ECU update and seat belt cover repaired, however, I explained that car was burning oil (but not leaking) and engine was on and car was making a knocking sound. I had taken my car to a local mechanic while informed me that my car-??s engine was bad. I even showed Pat Foran the printout that I was given. The local mechanic I found that I would qualify for the engine replacement based off of his inspection. So I took the car to Kia (barely made it because the car would not go over 60 mph. At Kia, I was told my car passed bearings test and that I would need to pay for a fuel consumption test to determine what was wrong with my car. I was told I would know if my car needed a new engine because it would sound like rocks in a milk carton, which it did but the folks at Kia said they drove it and didn-??t hear anything. I find it very strange that my engine light was also off when I got the car back but 20 miles down the road, as I putted my way back home, it came back on. I feel this was there attempt to not fix the car, they were too busy trying to get me to trade it in because I only had 93000 miles on it at the time.

- Statesboro, GA, USA

problem #460

Feb 122023

Soul

  • miles
Kia soul is burning oil it has 82k miles and I-??ve already went through the oil consumption test once with dealer and they said it wasn-??t loosing any more oil so I had a oil change done drove it the 3000 miles for next oil change and it was loan again I-??m now back to do the oil consumption test again I don-??t think I should have to do it The dealer just needs to put a new motor in car

- Hickory Creek, TX, USA

problem #459

Feb 072023

Soul

  • miles
Engine light stays on, it-??s says on the instrument that I used that it-??s the catalyst converter but when you take it to the shop they can-??t find anything wrong. Also my car shakes when pressing on the brakes.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #458

Jan 162023

Soul 4-cyl

  • miles
My 2015 Kia soul engine light won't stay off so I'm trying to see if it's under warranty or recall so I can get it fixed or trade it in. Please somebody contact as soon as possible. [XXX] [XXX] is my name INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Rock Hill , SC, USA

problem #457

Oct 172022

Soul

  • 138,489 miles
Vehicle began shuddering violently, with the check engine light alternating between blinking and staying lit. The oil light randomly lighting up for literally a fraction of a second despite oil levels in acceptable range. Excessive yet random consumption of oil. Severe loss of horsepower, especially upon acceleration from a dead stop. No/low compression on two cylinders. Catalytic converter needs replacing for 2nd time in 365 days. Safety Recalls not showing in system (VIN lookup), yet recently presented by dealership. Safety Recalls P12002B ECU Update KSDS 2.0L GDI, SA206 PS/EV Rear Center Seatbelt Cover, SC125 Pinion Plug Inspection Repair, & SC155 STR Gear Pinion Plug Group B. Some recalls not informed of in a timely manner. Kia Dealership & local muffler shop are the only ones to look at car. Kia Dealership stated didn't know what was wrong with Kia vehicle after a week of diagnostic testing, said to drive it elsewhere to have plugs, wires, packs & catalytic converter replaced, then return for further troubleshooting. Dealership continuing to "find" different reasons why vehicle isn't covered under extended warranty to replace engine. All issues confirmed by dealership & muffler shop, all warning lights remain on, driving vehicle as-is is a danger to self & other drivers due to engine stalling/random loss of power whilst turning, accelerating, etc. Safety Recalls not being presented in a timely manner could result in accidents and/or deaths.

- Calhoun, LA, USA

problem #456

Aug 162022

Soul 4-cyl

  • 95,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the vehicle was serviced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling) in 2019. The contact stated that after the recall repair was serviced, while driving up mountainous roadways, the low-pressure oil light would become illuminated. The contact stated he checked the oil level and found no oil on the dipstick. The contact stated that oil was added and after several weeks the failure recurred. The contact stated that he replaced the engine drain plug however, the failure continued. The vehicle was not taken to an independent mechanic or dealer for diagnosis or repairs. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH, the engine warning light illuminated. The dealer was contacted; however, it was 4 weeks before the vehicle was diagnosed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the catalytic converter needed to be cleaned or replaced. The parts were replaced. The engine started to knock and was towed to the dealer. The report from the dealer was unknown; however, the contact stated that he was informed that the engine would be replaced under an extended warranty. The engine was replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The approximate failure mileage was 95,000.

- Lenoir, NC, USA

problem #455

Feb 012023

Soul 4-cyl

  • miles
Safety recalls. Kia dealer in Quincy, Illinois refuses to fix recalls because of a flood title.

- Liberty , IL, USA

problem #454

Feb 012023

Soul

  • miles
I have a check engine light on vehicle. Have started to notice drag and acceleration problems, loss of fuel mileage since check engine light appeared. Had code diagnosed and got a failed catalytic converter code. Also a previous Mass Air Flow code. There are recall notices based on this issue. My VIN is not populating that this is an issue however in a search. There are multiple complaints for this code. My fuel consumption has gone from 32 to 26 on highway and jerky acceleration, and hood is very warm to touch after turning off engine.

- Greensboro, NC, USA

problem #453

Jan 292023

Soul

  • miles
Misfire ignition coil engine shaking it was fine then I turned and out of no where it started shaking I wasn-??t going fast at all

- Camp Hill, PA, USA

problem #452

Jan 032023

Soul

  • miles
Catalytic converter failed. Car cannot go above 10mph. I am the second owner. Original owner allegedly replaced catalytic converter in December 2021, 2 weeks before trading it in. I purchased in February 2022. Catalytic converter failed in January 2023.

- Columbia , SC, USA

problem #451

Apr 122022

Soul

  • miles
I heard there was a recall last year on knock sensors is the souls and so I went to a Kia dealership they said my car was no longer under warranty which it had to be under 150,000 miles and it was only 1000 miles over so I paid $736 and some change for it to go bad again and now I have to get it fixed again and take it to a Kia dealership I think it-??s so dumb how we have to pay for recalls when that-??s not our faults

- Washington Court House, OH, USA

problem #450

Jul 102022

Soul

  • miles
Vehicle has begun burning oil excessively and has a smell of gas in the oil. The oil is changed regularly with the correct oil. This did not begin to occur until the vehicle had a recall issue resolved at the dealership. The vehicle has 113,000 miles on it, a engine service light is on and and is throwing a P420 code. My mechanic provided me with the recall notices for the vehicle based on year however, a call to Kia indicates my VIN is not included in the second recall. I have noted there are mutiple compaints for the same issue on Kia owner sites on the web. The vehicle is beginning to have poor fuel comsumption, and is beginning to "drag" on occasion while driving at varied speeds both city and highway.

- Pittsfield, NH, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »